As Christmas nears, Berbice police move to clamp down on cattle rustling

With the Christmas season driving up the demand for beef, Region Six Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner Shivpersaud Bacchus, says law enforcement will intensify efforts to curb cattle rustling across East Berbice–Corentyne.
Speaking on Saturday at the launch of the Region Six Christmas Policing Programme, Bacchus assured that the Police Force will be deploying multiple units—including the Mounted Branch, Marine Section, and regular foot and mobile patrols, to secure vulnerable backlands and grazing areas.
He explained that ranks will be dispatched daily on foot, motorcycles, vehicles, boats, and horseback, particularly in Black Bush Polder, where the Mounted Branch is already active.
“This will be done in the backlands to mitigate cattle rustling,” the Commander said.
“You know, at these times, beef will be more in demand. So those cattle rustling activities that are happening in the backlands, the mounted patrol will support on foot, two-wheel and four-wheel patrols from the road. We will be coordinating to have that done, along with marine patrols in the Berbice River and the Canje Creek,” Bacchus explained. Cattle rustling continues to be one of the most serious challenges for livestock farmers in Region Six. The vast savannahs, open pastures and remote backdam trails of areas such as Upper Corentyne, Black Bush Polder, and the Cookrite Savannah enable organised groups to steal and transport animals with relative ease.
Farmers say rustling rings often move cattle at night through isolated farmlands or transport them by boat, resulting in significant financial losses and fear among ranchers striving to expand the region’s livestock sector.
Meanwhile, the Commander noted that Region Six police will continue to work closely with ranks in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) to track rustlers who attempt to move stolen cattle across regional boundaries.
“In the past, we’ve had success with this,” he stated proudly. “Marine patrols intercepted several cattle rustlers travelling by boat with animals tied on board, taking them from Region Six across to Region Five. Information was received, we intercepted them, and those individuals were charged.”
As the festive season approaches, police say the enhanced coordination of mounted, mobile, and marine operations is expected to serve as a strong deterrent, giving cattle farmers renewed confidence that their livelihoods are being protected.